Bullies at the Ballot Box - Demos
Bullies at the Ballot Box - Demos
Bullies at the Ballot Box - Demos
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4. st<strong>at</strong>e laws For aDDressing voter intimiD<strong>at</strong>ion, insiDe anD outsiDe <strong>the</strong> Polls<br />
NOTE: We have not provided assessments for <strong>the</strong>se st<strong>at</strong>utes. In general, <strong>the</strong>y should be broadly construed to apply to harassing, intimid<strong>at</strong>ing or o<strong>the</strong>rwise inappropri<strong>at</strong>e behavior in<br />
and around polling places th<strong>at</strong> burdens or interferes with a voter’s right to vote. Importantly, <strong>the</strong>re are Federal protections against intimid<strong>at</strong>ing voters as well.<br />
We strongly encourage election officials and law enforcement officials to monitor activity <strong>at</strong> <strong>the</strong> polls closely and to enforce <strong>the</strong>se laws aggressively to ensure all eligible voters can vote<br />
without interference.<br />
St<strong>at</strong>eS laWS regul<strong>at</strong>Ing Voter IntImId<strong>at</strong>Ion, InCludIng aCtIVIty outSIde oF <strong>the</strong> PollS<br />
Colorado Prohibits any person from directly or indirectly impeding, preventing, or o<strong>the</strong>rwise interfering with <strong>the</strong> free exercise of <strong>the</strong> vote.<br />
COLO. REV. STAT. § 1-13-713<br />
FlorIda Prohibits thre<strong>at</strong>ening or coercing any person for <strong>the</strong> purpose of interfering with th<strong>at</strong> person’s right to vote.<br />
FLA. STAT. ANN. § 104.0515<br />
Prohibits using or thre<strong>at</strong>ening to use intimid<strong>at</strong>ion or coercion to compel a person to vote or not vote.<br />
FLA. STAT. ANN. § 104.061<br />
Prohibits soliciting for “facts” or “opinions” within 100 feet of a polling place.<br />
FLA. STAT. ANN. § 102.031<br />
mISSourI Prohibits using or thre<strong>at</strong>ening to use force, violence or restraint in order to induce or compel a person to vote or refrain from voting <strong>at</strong> any election.<br />
MO. REV. STAT. § 115.635<br />
Prohibits impeding or preventing, or <strong>at</strong>tempting to impede or prevent, by abduction, duress or any fraudulent device or contrivance, <strong>the</strong> free exercise of <strong>the</strong><br />
franchise of any voter.<br />
MO. REV. STAT. § 115.635<br />
Prohibits a number of specific election rel<strong>at</strong>ed offenses, such as tampering with a voter’s ballot, providing inducements to voters, cre<strong>at</strong>ing a breach of <strong>the</strong><br />
peace, preventing one’s employees from voting, or o<strong>the</strong>rwise interfering, or <strong>at</strong>tempting to interfere, with any voter inside a polling place.<br />
See MO. REV. STAT. § 115.637<br />
neVada Prohibits using or thre<strong>at</strong>ening to use force, intimid<strong>at</strong>ion, coercion, violence, or undue influence in connection with any election or petition.<br />
Nev. Rev. St<strong>at</strong>. § 293.710<br />
It is a felony under Nevada law to interfere with <strong>the</strong> conduct of an election or o<strong>the</strong>rwise remove, receive, or display any ballot th<strong>at</strong> has been prepared by a<br />
voter before <strong>the</strong> polls are closed.<br />
Nev. Rev. St<strong>at</strong>. § 293.730<br />
neW hamPShIre Prohibits using or thre<strong>at</strong>ening to use force, violence, or any tactic of intimid<strong>at</strong>ion to compel a voter to vote for a particular candid<strong>at</strong>e, refrain from voting, or<br />
refrain from registering to vote.<br />
N.H. Rev. St<strong>at</strong>. § 659:40<br />
No person shall interfere or <strong>at</strong>tempt to interfere with any voter when such voter is in <strong>the</strong> space within <strong>the</strong> guardrail or endeavor to induce any voter before<br />
voting to show how he marks or has marked his ballot. Whoever knowingly viol<strong>at</strong>es this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor if a n<strong>at</strong>ural person or guilty<br />
of a felony if any o<strong>the</strong>r person<br />
N.H. Rev. St<strong>at</strong>. § 659:37<br />
51 • aPPendIx 4 | St<strong>at</strong>e Laws for Addressing Voter Intimid<strong>at</strong>ion, Inside and Outside <strong>the</strong> Polls